Happy Spring!  The March Outturn brings a rainbow of fresh whiskies that zing with flavour, leaving us bursting with optimism and putting a bounce in our steps.  So go ahead – leap in!

CASK No. 41.68  LIQUIFIED BOUNTY BARS

11 years old; 1st fill barrel; 61.6%; Juicy, oak & vanilla

Vanilla, pineapple, coconut and fresh oak shavings. Rich and heady incense on a well polished desk and mixed fruits sat nobly in a fruit bowl. Bursting with mouthwatering juicy fruits and ginger and chili oomph! Water brought “liquified Bounty bars.” An incredibly juicy experience.

CASK No. 50.66  RETRO SWEET HAMPER

24 years old; refill barrel; 59.5%; Sweet, fruity & mellow

Straight out of a retro sweet hamper; strawberry foam mushrooms, green apple chewing gum and pink and white sugar mice. The taste neat was like a Ferrero Rocher chocolate dipped in sweet chili sauce. Water releases sweet popcorn and candied angelica.

CASK No. 121.77  DUNNAGE WAREHOUSE ORANGE BOXES

19 years old; refill hogshead; 53.4%; Spicy & sweet

The nose has orange boxes, balsa and linoleum – also toffee, brown sugar, crunchy-nut cornflakes and sugared almonds (tobacco and dunnage warehouses later). The palate supplies a spicy samosa heat, dark chocolate orange, bonbons, marshmallows and pear flan with burnt pastry edges.

BRONZE MEDAL WINNER AT WHISKY MAGAZINE’S ‘ICONS OF WHISKY’ AWARDS!

CASK No. 63.33  RICH, TREACLY AND SUMPTUOUS

9 years old; 2nd fill sherry butt; 61.6%; Deep, rich & dried fruits

The nose seems rich and treacly, with brandy snaps, rum baba, stroopwafels, dates, honeyed figs, balsamic reduction and unlit cigars. The palate is dark, sumptuous and mouth-filling – sherry, burnt sticks, smoky bacon, ‘fly cemeteries’, liquorice, sweet coconut and dry oak.

CASK No. 3.221 STARRY, STARRY NIGHT

19 years old; refill sherry butt; 54.2%; Oily & coastal

Childhood memories of airfix paint, linseed oil. Grilled oyster on the barbecue. Red liquorice laces and marshmallows. A big puff of peat, chorizo and English lavender. It reminded one of ‘sooking spoots’ (sucking razor clams) from the shell. A clean finish of black pepper and sparkling water.

CASK No. 66.73  MIDNIGHT FEAST AT PONY CLUB CAMP

10 years old; 1st fill white wine hogshead; 61.1%; Lightly peated

Ponies in a stable, damp hay and camphor scented blankets. Bacon flavoured chips, Bourbon biscuits, warm waffles thick with hazelnut and chocolate spread, lashings of ginger beer. Like ‘licking a creosote fence’ and linseed hoof oil. Beef Wellington and date pudding.

CASK No. 29.165  CIGAR-SMOKING PERFUMED NURSE

20 years old; refill barrel; 57.4%; Peated

On the nose – tendrils of complex smoke weave around leather, saddle soap, root beer, antiseptic lotion, malt extract, vanilla, starched nurses and lemon bonbons. On the palate – teasingly perfumed smoke, bonfire ash, exotic fruits, walnuts, pepper and aniseed. Delightfully complex.

SMWS Canada